NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 4/6/19 - 4/7/19

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 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings
A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com
Want to submit an event? Use our event submission form.


Saturday, April 6 - Farmingdale, Monmouth County
Opening Day at Allaire
Children Friendly Event & Site

As New Jersey’s premiere outdoor living history museum, come and celebrate Allaire’s history with special house tours, craft demonstrations (carpentry, blacksmith, woodcarving), children’s games, story-tellling, historic quilt “airing,” and more! With winter behind and signs of spring, the village comes to life this day to kickoff the 2019 season.

 Highlights include:
* Furnace interpretation at 12:30 and 2:30 pm.
* Miniature Wooden Animal Craft
* Carriage House Display
* OPEN HOUSE at the Allaire Residence
* Historic Chapel Open to Tour
* Information Tables

 A special history and science scavenger hunt for children and adults. Music in the village, hands-on activities, and interactive programs to experience life in this early 19th century industrial village. Learn about what Allaire has to offer via group tours, facility rentals (the Chapel), benefits of museum membership, special events, volunteer/intern opportunities, sponsorships, and much more! An “Opening Day” and “Open House” to kick off a thrilling year at the Historic Village at Allaire!

Hours: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. The Historic Village at Allaire is located at 4263 Atlantic Avenue, Farmingdale, NJ. For more information, contact the Allaire Village office during business hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, at 732-919-3500 or visit www.allairevillage.org.

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Saturday, April 6 - Princeton, Mercer County
In Her Footsteps: How Women Shaped Princeton Tour

Wiebke Martens and Jennifer Jang, authors of Discovering Princeton, have developed a brand new tour dedicated to the contributions of women in the community. The walk includes an overview of Princeton’s history and focuses on some of the women who have helped make Princeton – both town and its namesake University – what it is today. Stops include the new Betsey Stockton Garden, Alexander Hall, and Dorothea’s House.

Admission: $15 per person. Tour begins in front of the Bainbridge House, 158 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ. Tour begins at 10:00 am and ends at 12:00 noon. Space is limited - register online or call 609-921-6748 x102. For more information, call 609-921-6748 or visit www.princetonhistory.org.

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Saturday, April 6 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County
Spring Beekeeping
Children Friendly Event

On Saturday, Howell Living History Farm's honeybees will take a break from their busy schedules when Bob Hughes stops by for his annual spring visit.

Mr. Hughes, who is a professional beekeeper, will open the hives to give the bees a complete health check, medicate the colony and make sure that the queens, drones and worker bees are properly equipped for the task of manufacturing honey.

Visitors to the Farm can watch the inspection at the hives, and join Mr. Hughes for an hour-long presentation, "Life of a Bee Colony.” Children are also invited to help beekeepers assemble beehives.

Howell Living Farm represents typical farm life between 1890 and 1910. The farm is operated by the Mercer County Parks Commission. It is located at 70 Wooden's Lane, Lambertville, NJ. For more information. call 609-737-3299 or visit www.howellfarm.org.

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Saturday, April 6 - Princeton, Mercer County
Annual Princeton Battlefield Clean Up Day

 The annual Clean Up Day at the Princeton Battlefield State Park will be held on Saturday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. In cooperation with the American Battlefield Trust’s national Park Day, Mike Russell, a Princeton Battlefield Society trustee is chair of this year’s event. A rain date is set for April 13.

 “The Princeton Battlefield Society invites friends, neighbors and community groups,” announced Russell, “to join us in sprucing up this national historic site, to keep it preserved and pristine. We already have a strong corps of volunteers, including Sierra Club members and scouts from Troop 1 of Providence, New Jersey, but we have room for a lot more.”

 Teams of volunteers will branch out for three hours to focus on specific areas of the park including the Brush & Branch Battalion, the Back Road Regiment, the Invasive Weed Corps, the Pick Up Sticks Squad and the all-purpose, Anywhere army. It is recommended that volunteers bring their own gloves, clippers, rakes, goggles, tarps, etc. Water will be provided, along with a national Park Day t-shirt while supplies last.

 Princeton Battlefield State Park is located at 500 Mercer Road, Princeton, NJ. For more information and to sign up visit www.pbs1777.org.

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Saturday, April 6 - Westfield, Union County
Hop Into Spring with a Bunny Craft
Children Friendly

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Saturday, April 6 - Greenwich, Cumberland County
Two Exhibits on Display at Museum Reopening

Two existing exhibits will be on display at the reopening of the Gibbon House on Saturday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm.

 Exhibit #1: “A Rare and Remarkable Find”
With the help of benefactors, the Cumberland County Historical Society recently acquired a group of six antique samplers worked by four generations of the same Shiloh, New Jersey family. No other museum or historical society can boast of such a find!

Exhibit #2: “18th Century Charcoal Drawing of Philip Vickers Fithian”
Home from the Conservation Center for Arts and Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia, the 18th century charcoal drawing of Philip Vickers Fithian will be on display at the reopening! 

 There will be tours of the Gibbon House, hearthside cooking demonstrations, and light refreshments! The Gibbon House, located at 960 Ye Greate Street, Greenwich, NJ. For more information, call 856-455-8580 or visit www.cchistsoc.org.

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Saturday, April 6 - Chester, Morris County
Opening Day at Cooper Gristmill
Children Friendly Event

On Saturday, experience the powerful energy of the Black River as it runs the 1826 Cooper Gristmill’s huge waterwheel and four floors of machinery to grind grain seeds into flour. How much flour do you think is produced daily? History and technology fans and families can find out the answers, and much more!

The gristmill is open from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. The last guided tour of the gristmill begins at 3:30 pm. The suggested donation to tour the Gristmill is $3 per adult, $2 per senior (65+), and $1 per child age 4 - 16. FREE per child under age 4, and Friends of Fosterfields and Cooper Mill members with a current membership card. The Cooper Gristmill is located at 66 Route 513, Chester, NJ. For more information, call 908-879-5463 or visit www.morrisparks.net.

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Saturday - Sunday, April 6 - 7 - Morristown, Morris County
Opening Weekend at Historic Speedwell
Children Friendly Event

Discover what’s new this year at Historic Speedwell. Experience a variety of traditional fun and games for the entire family. Save 10% off purchases in the Friends of Historic Speedwell Gift Shop. Hours: Saturday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm and Sunday 12:00 noon - 6:00 pm. Admission: $5/adult, $4/senior (65+), $3/child (ages 4 -16). FREE for children under age 4 and Friends members, with a current membership card. Historic Speedwell is located 333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ. For more information, call 973-285-6550 or visit www.morrisparks.net.

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Saturday, April 6  -  Morris Township, Morris County
Fosterfields Opening Day
Children Friendly Event and Site

On Saturday at Fosterfield's Living Historical Farm, celebrate the first Saturday of the season with farm to table cooking demos, planting in the garden, wagon rides, and crafts - a perfect spring day filled with activities for the entire family! Wagon rides 10:15 am - 12:00 noon; planting at 11:30 am followed by a cooking demo at 1:00 pm in the farmhouse. Crafts from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm.

 Admission: $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (65+); $4 for children ages 4 – 16; and $2 for children ages 2 and 3. FREE for children under age 2 and Friends members with a current membership card. Fosterfields Living Historical Farm is located at 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown, NJ. For more information, visit www.morrisparks.net.

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Saturday, April 6 - Piscataway, Middlesex County
The Liberty Base Ball Club 2019 Schedule
Family Friendly

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Saturday - Sunday, April 6 - 7 - Morristown, Morris County
Grand Encampment Weekend
Children Friendly Event & Site

Jockey Hollow will come to life on Saturday and Sunday as reenactors from across the Northeast arrive for the park’s Grand Encampment. The special event focuses on the life and times of soldiers and civilians during the Revolutionary War. It's an event full of activities for the whole family.

 Highlights for the weekend include demonstrations of cooking, sewing, and other camp chores, military maneuvers and musket firing, and a special “children’s muster,” where children can learn to drill and march like Revolutionary soldiers.

 The event opens at 10:00 am each morning and concludes at 4:00 pm each afternoon.  

Saturday Schedule:
10:30 am - Inspection of the Troops
11:00 am - Firing Demonstration and Drill
1:00 pm - Firing Demonstration and Drill
1:30 pm - Children’s Drill
3:00 pm - Firing Demonstration and Drill
3:30 pm - Children’s Drill
4:00 pm - Camp Competition– Musket Speed Loading and Cannonball Toss

 Sunday Schedule:
10:30 am - Children’s Drill
12:30 pm - Inspection of the Troops
1:00 pm - Firing Demonstration and Drill
1:30 pm - Children’s Drill
2:00 pm - Camp Competition – Trap Ball and Three Men’s Morris
3:00 pm - Firing Demonstration and Drill
4:00 pm - Regimental Assembly Retreat for the Evening

 Jockey Hollow at Morristown National Historical Park is located at 580 Tempe Wick Road, Morristown NJ (address is approximate). This is a FREE event. For more information, call 973-543-4030 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.

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Saturday - Sunday, April 6 - 7 - Piscataway, Middlesex County
2019 Season Opening & British Occupation
Family Friendly


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Saturday - Sunday, April 6 - 7 - Lower Township, Cape May County
Climb the Cape May Lighthouse
Children Friendly

On Saturday, the Cape May Lighthouse, Oil House and Museum Shop reopens for the season. The lighthouse is an 1859 structure with 199 steps to the watch gallery for a panoramic view of the Jersey Cape and Atlantic Ocean. For those who choose not to climb, the Oil House contains a fully-accessible Visitors' Orientation Center and a Museum Shop stocked with maritime accessories and lighthouse memorabilia. Open 11:00 am - 3:00 pm on Saturday. Cape May Point State Park is located in Lower Township, NJ. Admission to the Visitors' Orientation Center and the ground floor of the lighthouse is free. Tower admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children (ages 3-12). Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, April 6 - 7 - Cape May, Cape May County
Emlen Physick Estate Tour
Family Friendly Tour

Take a guided tour of Cape May's Emlen Physick Estate, the magnificent Stick Style mansion attributed to renowned Victorian architect Frank Furness. A tour of the 15 beautifully restored rooms gives you a glimpse into the lifestyle of this Victorian-era Cape May family. Physick Estate Tours take approximately 45 minutes and end with a visit to the 1876 Carriage House where you can see the current exhibit in the Carroll Gallery. Tours will start at 11:15 am on Saturday and 12:30 pm on Sunday. Admission is $15 for adults, $8 for children (ages 3-12). Tickets can be purchased at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, April 6 - 7 - Cape May, Cape May County
Physick Estate Scavenger Hunt
Family Friendly

Have an adventure the whole family will enjoy at the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate! Use our map to explore the grounds and find the answers to questions about the Physick family and life in Victorian times on this educational scavenger hunt. Turn in your answer sheet at the Carriage House Museum Shop and receive a prize!

$5 includes map and clues. Maps and clues available at the Hill House office or the Carriage House Visitors Center at the Emlen Physick Estate. The Emlem Physick Estate is located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, April 6 - 7 - Cape May, Cape May County
Cape May Historic District Trolley Tour

Enjoy a 45 minute guided tour with entertaining and enlightening stories about the nation's oldest seaside resort and how it survived. Accessible trolley available with advance notification. Tour begins at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth. Tours begin and end at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth.

Adults $12 and children (ages 3-12) $8. Tours on Saturday at 10:30 am and Sunday at 11:45 am. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, April 6 - 7 - Lower Township, Cape May County
World War II Tower Lookout Museum and Memorial Open
Family Friendly

Fire Control Tower No. 23 on Sunset Boulevard is New Jersey's last freestanding World War II tower, part of the immense Harbor Defense of the Delaware system known as Fort Miles. After an award-winning restoration in 2009, visitors can climb to the 6th floor spotting gallery while learning about the homeland defense efforts during World War II. The ground floor of the tower, the All Veterans Memorial, and boardwalk interpretive panels are fully accessible. Open Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children (ages 3-12) (one child free with paying adult). The World War II Lookout Tower is located on Sunset Boulevard in Lower Township, near Cape May Point. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Sunday, April 7 - North Plainfield, Somerset County
Colonial Toys and Games at the Bouman-Stickney Farmstead

People through the ages have enjoyed games and played with toys for recreational and educational purposes. Come on Sunday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. as colonial interpreters, Bev Altrath and Arlene Soong, present Colonial Toys and Games. There will be some toys on display as well as games on hand for both adults and children to play. Come roll hoops, toss rings, and play games such as skittles, draughts, graces, and more. 

 This Open House Sunday program will be held at the Bouman-Stickney Farmstead, located at 114 Dreahook Road in the Stanton section Readington Township. For GPS use Lebanon, NJ 08833.

This is a free family friendly event, although donations will be gratefully accepted. In case of inclement weather please call the Museums to find out the status of the program. For more information, call 908-236-2327 or visit https://www.readingtontwpnj.gov/visiting/museum.

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Sunday, April 7 - Princeton, Mercer County
Historic Princeton Walking Tour
Children Friendly Tour

Enjoy a 1.9 mile, two-hour walk around downtown Princeton and the University campus as you learn about historic sites in the area, including Bainbridge House, Nassau Hall, the University Chapel, and Palmer Square. The early history of Princeton, the founding of the University, and the American Revolution are just some of the stories from Princeton’s history that you will learn on your tour.

Admission: $7 per adult; $4 children ages 6 to 12; free for children age 5 and under. Tours begin in front of the Bainbridge House, 158 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ. Tour begins at 2:00 pm and ends at 4:00 pm. Walk up ticket sales are cash only; guides cannot provide change. Space is limited. For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-921-6748 or visit www.princetonhistory.org.

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Sunday, April 7 - Whippany, Morris County
Easter Bunny Express
Children Friendly Event

New Jersey's Original Easter Bunny Express celebrates its 27th continuous year of operation in 2019. Celebrate the return of spring and the Easter holidays with a ride on the Whippany Railway Museum's Easter Bunny Express. Our Special Easter Train Ride ensures a fun outing for the kids...and the entire family.

During each excursion, the Easter Bunny makes his way through the train and visits with the children onboard. The Bunny's helpers follow along, giving the kids a special Easter gift. Be sure to bring your camera and take pictures of the kids with the Easter Bunny, so they can always remember their day onboard the train! Our kid-friendly hobos and clowns will also be on each train to entertain the children with tricks and jokes.

The 10-mile, 45-minute round trip excursion from Whippany to Roseland and return is a thrill for the children as they enjoy what for many will be their very first train ride...and they can also learn about and experience the history of New Jersey's rich railroad and transportation heritage. Riders will have time onboard the train to enjoy the spring weather and the excitement during the ride.

The Whippany Railway Museum's Easter train is the original excursion of its type in the North Jersey area - since 1992 our Easter Trains have been complete sell-outs, and seeing the excited faces of the children as they climb aboard the train ensures an afternoon of family fun. Passengers can combine the thrill of riding our Springtime Streamliner along with touring the museum site, with its outstanding collection of historic railroad locomotives, rolling stock, operating model train layouts and vintage farm tractors.

In addition to the regular coaches that make up the train, make your day Extra Special by purchasing limited tickets for a nostalgic Easter ride aboard the museum's elegant 1927-era Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) 'Club Car' Jersey Coast. The car has the look and feel of a private club with individual leather chairs, mahogany interior accented with stained glass, built-in tables and period ceiling fans. The Jersey Coast, recalls the 1930s when the CNJ operated its deluxe coach train, The Blue Comet, between Jersey City and Atlantic City, NJ. The striking, authentic exterior paint scheme of cream and blue reminds one of a comet streaking through space. It is the only car of its type operating in New Jersey.

So round up your family and friends and climb aboard for some great Easter fun and laughter! Ordering tickets is fast and easy! Trains depart at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00 pm each day, rain, snow, or shine. The Whippany Railroad is located at 1 Railroad Plaza, at the Intersection of Route 10 West & Whippany Road in Whippany, NJ. Train fare for coach: Adults: $17.00, Children (under 12): $12.00, Infants (1 year and under): Free. 

The Museum building will be open from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm each day of operation. Admission is included with your train ticket price.

To order tickets and for more information, visit www.whippanyrailwaymuseum.net or call 973-887-8177. The Whippany Railway Museum, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit Operating Heritage Railroad that is staffed by volunteers. Donations from the public help to keep the museum operational, but funds are still required to support this unique New Jersey treasure. Proceeds from the train rides further enhance the Museum's mission and its historic preservation efforts.

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Sunday, April 7 - Bedminster, Somerset County
The Middlebrook and Pluckemin Encampments - Hub of the American Revolution

 On Sunday at 1:00 pm at the Jacobus Vanderveer House and Museum, Robert Mayers, historian and author will present "The Middlebrook and Pluckemin Encampments-Hub of the American Revolution."

 The Middlebrook and Pluckemin encampments were of critical importance to the American military during the swirling campaigns of 1777 and 1779. Yet, these iconic places, like many other historic sites in the Raritan Valley and Somerset County area have been virtually ignored in history. Most now are buried, obliterated, built over by suburban creep, rarely marked, and shrouded in mystery and mythology. In his new book Revolutionary New Jersey-Forgotten Towns and Crossroads of the American Revolution, Bob Mayers rediscovers these sacred local places with new information found in in original military documents, British and Hessian accounts and by on foot exploration.

Mayers thrives on discovering facts about the American Revolution not found in works of earlier writers. The descendant of Patriot soldier, Corporal John Allison, the American Revolution is personal to him.

Visits to Revolutionary War sites, combined with research into original documents and oral accounts, help Mayers bring history alive. His audiences comment that they regret having tuned out history when they were in school. Mayers' presentations are for everyone--not just hardcore history buffs.

Mayers is an active member of ten historical societies and a frequent contributor to their publications. His service as a combat officer in both the Navy and the Marine Corps provides him with a deeper perspective into battles depicted in his work. Mayers is a graduate of Rutgers University and served as an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University

Mayers published books include The War Man, the biography of a soldier, who fought all eight years of the Revolutionary War, The Forgotten Revolution, and Searching for Private Yankee Doodle – Washington’s Soldiers. For more information, visit www.revolutionarydetective.com.

 Tickets are $20 per person. $10 for museum members. Children 12 and under, free. The Jacobus Vanderveer House is located at 3055 River Road (in Bedminster’s River Road Park), Bedminster, NJ. For more information, visit www.jvanderveerhouse.org.

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Sunday, April 7 - West Orange, Essex County
Glenmont Garage
Children Friendly Site

Have you ever wondered about what kind of cars Thomas Edison and his family owned and where they kept them? The Glenmont Garage will be open from 1:00 - 4:00 pm for viewing with a ranger there to answer questions and tell stories about Edison and his cars. See inside the Edison Portland Cement structure and learn about the various differently powered cars in there. A car pass is required to visit Glenmont and available at the Laboratory Complex visitor center.

Tickets must be purchased at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park Laboratory Complex Visitor Center at 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ. Admission is $10.00 for adults, and includes the Glenmont Estate and the Laboratory Complex. Children under age 16 are free. For more information, call 973-736-0550 x33 or visit www.nps.gov/edis.

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Sunday, April 7 - Westfield, Union County
The Symbols and Traditions of Easter
Children Friendly Event

Why are rabbits and lambs associated with Easter? What is the significance of the lily? And can you really stir-fry marshmallow Peeps? For the answers to these questions and more, visit the Miller-Cory House Museum on Sunday! The program will include an overview of Easter symbols and traditions, a fun look at Easter sweets, and a craft for children.

 The museum will be open from 2:00 to 4:00 pm and includes tours of the fully restored circa 1740 farmhouse museum and authentic open-hearth cooking demonstrations. Members of the cooking committee will use early American recipes, colonial era cooking tools and seasonal foods. Admission is $4 for ages 13 and older, $3 for ages 3-12, and free age 2 and younger. The Miller-Cory House Museum is located at 614 Mountain Avenue, Westfield, NJ. For more information, call 908-232-1776, e-mail millercorymuseum@gmail.com, or visit www.millercoryhouse.com.

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Sunday, April 7-  South River, Middlesex County
South River Walking Tour

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Sunday, April 7 - Westampton, Burlington County
The Art of Quilting

Be they elaborate designs or simply layers of cloth stitched together, quilts have existed since pre-recorded history. Kim Hanley of the American Historic Theatre will present the history of quilt making. She will explain the different types of quilts and their origins. A hands-on craft will follow.

 Program begins at 2:00 pm. Admission is $10 per person. Seating is limited; prepaid reservations are required to guarantee seating. Peachfield is located at 180 Burrs Road, Westampton, NJ. For more information and to register, call 609-267-6996, e-mail colonialdamesnj@comcast.net, or visit www.colonialdamesnj.org.

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Sunday, April 7 - Mountainside, Union County
“Maizie Brews a Tea Business”

 On Sunday afternoon from 1:00 - 3:00 pm, the Mountainside Historic Committee will host “Maizie Brews a Tea Business” a dramatic presentation, brought to us in conjunction with the Public Scholars Project of The New Jersey Council for the Humanities, at the Deacon Andrew Hetfield House. Guests will be entertained as Maizie discusses her experiences as a woman in 1925 opening her own business – a Tea Room. Ironically, the Deacon Andrew Hetfield House once operated as a Tea Room during prohibition.

 What if it was 1925 and you wanted to open a Tea Room? What if you were a woman who wanted to open a business? In this dramatic presentation, Maizie Stanton will explain how her husband reacted and what she needed to do to prepare for this undertaking. During this session, the challenges faced by women who were stepping out of their homes and into the business world will be explored. Participants will engage in a lively discussion about the Tea Room craze and the evolution of women as entrepreneurs. Tea and cookies will be served. A $5 per person donation is suggested.

 Maizie is brought to life by Maureen O’Connor Leach who has been a historic interpreter for over 25 years and has presented a variety of programs at historic sites throughout the country. She is a member of the New Jersey Living History Advisory Council and a Commissioner for the Monmouth County Historical Commission. Ms. Leach holds a BA in History and a JD.

 The Deacon Andrew Hetfield House is located at Constitution Plaza adjacent to the Mountainside Library. Constitution Plaza is the first right off Birch Hill Road which is off New Providence Road near the Mountainside Volunteer Fire House. The Mountainside Historic Restoration Committee is a committee of volunteers whose purpose is to restore and maintain the Deacon Andrew Hetfield House and the Levi Cory House and collect and save historic information and items from destruction. For information, call 908-789-9420 or visit www.mountainsidehistory.org.

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Sunday, April 7 - Jefferson Township, Morris County
Open House

The Jefferson Township Museum, also known as the George Chamberlin House, will have an open house on Sunday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Learn about the Jefferson Township Historical Society. Costumed docents will be available to talk about this Victorian home. Admission is free.

The museum has been freshly painted for the 2019 season and features new room colors and a new look.

 Be sure to visit Miss Elizabeth’s Shoppe located in the original kitchen of the Museum. The Shoppe is packed with new and vintage items for sale, perfect for spring or anytime. You may be lucky enough to see some spring flowers poking through in the Museum’s lovely gardens, too.

 The Jefferson Township Museum is located at 315 Dover-Milton Road, Jefferson Township, NJ. For further information, call 973-697-0258 or visit www.jthistoricalsociety.org.

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Sunday, April 7 - Morristown, Morris County
"Somerville Through Time"

 On Sunday at 2:00 pm, the Somerset County Historical Society will host "Somerville Through Time," a glimpse into the life of the village and the people of a century ago compared with modern views to show the growth of the borough.

 George Washington lived in Somerville for six months during the Middlebrook Cantonment of the American Revolution. At the turn of the last century, Somerville, the county seat, was a very contemporary town. Main Street was an avenue of commerce, lined with stores, services, and entertainment. In 1900 the town boasted three newspapers, a major shopping district, and lots of entertainment. People traveled from neighboring towns on the trolleys, and train service linked Somerville to New York, Trenton, Philadelphia, and more distant points. The municipality was part of Bridgewater Township until 1909, when Somerville became an independent borough. The town celebrated its Centennial in 2009.

 National Register sites in the borough include the Somerset County Court House; the colonial Wallace House; the Old Dutch Parsonage; St. John's Episcopal Church and rectory; the Exempt Firemen’s Museum, the Daniel Robert Mansion, now the borough hall, and J. Harper Smith mansion.

 Linda Barth has been a fan of New Jersey for a long time. A lifelong resident of the Garden State, Linda has written two books on the D&R Canal and three children’s picture books, Bridgetender’s Boy, Hidden New Jersey, and Alice Paul: Champion of Women’s Rights. She has also authored A History of Inventing in New Jersey: From Thomas Edison to the Ice Cream Cone and New Jersey Originals. With her husband she has published The Millstone Valley Through Time and with Jim Sommerville, Somerville Through Time. She has also contributed to the Encyclopedia of New Jersey.

 The program will be held 2:00 pm on Sunday at the society’s headquarters in the Historic Van Veghten house, located on the dead end of 9 Van Veghten Drive, Bridgewater, NJ. Doors at the Van Veghten House will open at 1:30 pm on Sunday. Light refreshments will be available. As space is limited, please RSVP by calling the Society and leaving a message at 908-218-1281.

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Sunday, April 7 - Morristown, Morris County
Songs of History & Beyond with Gordon Thomas Ward

As part of the park's annual encampment weekend, Morristown National Historical Park is pleased to welcome back singer/songwriter Gordon Thomas Ward. His performance of stirring tales, told through music and spoken word will capture your attention and imagination. Ward, a Grammy-balloted musician, New Jersey troubadour, popular author, and celebrated storyteller, has entertaining anecdotes and contemporary folk songs which are sure to please.

 Listeners will embark upon a captivating journey that may find them in the company of a Revolutionary War soldier, a Rockabye Railroad engineer, Robert Frost, the ghost of the Headless Hessian of New Jersey's Great Swamp, or transported to the historic Trail of Tears, the Civil War, the trail of Lewis and Clark, and other times and places! This presentation has something special for everyone!

 This special concert of New Jersey and history related songs will take place at Washington’s Headquarters Museum, 30 Washington Place, Morristown, NJ. It begins at 2:00 pm. Admission to the program is free. No reservations necessary. For more information, call 973-539-2016 x 204 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.

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Sunday, April 7 - Union Township, Union County
New Jersey Folk Revival Music – History and Tradition

 The Union Township Historical Society will host Michael Gabriele on Sunday at 2:00 pm for a program on his book New Jersey Folk Revival Music – History and Tradition. The event will be held at Connecticut Farms Presbyterian Church, 888 Stuyvesant Avenue, Union, NJ. The presentation will include a short live-music segment and a book-signing. Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. Refreshments will be served.

 The book, published by Arcadia Publishing/The History Press, is a narrative on the evolution, traditions, and history of folk revival music in our state. Beginning with tavern revelers and fiddle players in the 1700s, the story moves to the “Guitar Mania” of the mid-1800s; to monumental recordings made at Victor studios in Camden in the early 1900s; to legendary artists, such as Woody Guthrie, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, and Bob Dylan; to the achievements of world-class New Jersey musicians.

 The book provides extensive information on the acoustic sounds of the Pine Barrens. Sammy Giberson, the legendary fiddler of the mid-1800s; the Pinehawkers at the 1941 National Folk Festival; the Albert brother’s “beloved Homeplace” cabin in the Waretown woods, which served as the inspiration for today’s Albert Hall; and the exploits of Merce Ridgway, Jr., are included in the Pine Barrens tales.

 Folk revival music is a “living history” that builds on traditions, dating back over 300 years. The book documents New Jersey's vast contributions to the musical genre and examines the effect of folk revival music on local history and culture, as well as how it has changed lives—of the performers and the audience.

 This is Gabriele’s third book on Garden State history. He recently was installed as a trustee for the NJ Folk Festival. A lifelong New Jersey resident, Gabriele graduated Montclair State University in 1975 and has worked as a journalist and freelance writer for four decades. He’s a trustee of the NJ Folk Festival, Rutgers University; the executive board of the Nutley Historical Society; and serves on the advisory board of the Clifton Arts Center.

 For more information call 908-591-4377 or visit www.unionnjhistory.com.

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Sunday, April 7 - Montclair, Essex County
Historic House Tour: Crane House/Historic YWCA
Children Friendly Event & Site

The Crane House and Historic YWCA is a window on to the history of our nation from its early years as an independent country to a country embroiled in the civil rights struggle.

Tours of the Crane House & Historic YWCA are on the hour, last tour at 3:00 pm. Admission is $6/adult; $5/student/senior with ID; $4/child; under 2 free, good for both sites. Member get in free! The Crane House/Historic YWCA is located at 110 Orange Road, Montclair, NJ. For more information, call 973-744-1796, e-mail mail@montclairhistorical.org, or visit www.montclairhistory.org.

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Sunday, April 7 - Montclair, Essex County
What's it Worth? Free Antique Appraisal


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Sunday, April 7 - Lambertville, Hunterdon County
Guided Walking Tours of Lambertville City

 The Lambertville Historical Society offers guided walking tours of historic Lambertville on the first Sunday of each month from April through November. The tours last about 60 minutes and are free but donations are welcomed. No reservations are required. Meet at 2:00 pm in front of the Marshall House Museum at 60 Bridge Street, Lamertville, NJ. For more information, call 609-397-0770, email info@lambertvillehistoricalsociety.org, or visit www.lambertvillehistoricalsociety.org.

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Sunday, April 7 - Somerville, Somerset County
Meet the New Interpretative Specialist - Wallace House & Old Dutch Parsonage


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Sunday, April 7 - Nutley, Essex County
Suffragette City - Beyond Just Voting Rights!

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Sunday, April 7 - Trenton, Mercer County
The Mystery of the Shoe in the Roof: Panel Discussion

In early 2018, when contractors were preparing to repair the cornice on the north side of the 1719 William Trent House, they were surprised to find an old leather shoe tucked behind the soffit. Who put it there? When? Why? The experts weigh in during a panel discussion to explore the mystery surrounding the early American shoe. The program on Sunday from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at the William Trent House Museum Visitor Center is presented by the Trent House Association.

 Chris Manning is presenting her Master’s thesis research on the custom, originating in Europe and found in the eastern and Midwestern United States, of hiding talismans, such as shoes and written charms, in the fabric of a building. This “homemade magic” was intended to protect the occupants from evil. Valentine Povinelli draws upon his experience as shoemaker at Colonial Williamsburg to demonstrate how the construction of the shoe can help date it to the first half of the 19th century and determine its likely ownership and use. Kevin Joy, historic preservation consultant and architectural historian, describes the changing architecture of the Trent House, exploring how an 19th century shoe might have placed in the roof of a structure built in 1719.

 Tickets are $12 for Trent House Association Members and $15 for general admission. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Free off-street parking is available and light refreshments are being served.

 Built in 1719, the magnificent Trent House is the oldest building in New Jersey's state capital. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is restored and carefully furnished as it would have been in the early 18th century. The Trenton House is located at 15 Market Street in Trenton, NJ adjacent to the Hughes Justice Complex. For more information, call 609-989-0087, e-mail trenthouseassociation@verizon.net, or visit www.williamtrenthouse.org.

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Through Sunday, April 14 - Cape May, Cape May County
Collecting History: Personal Collections of Cape May's African American Community
Family Friendly

Collecting is a lifelong passion for many individuals who hunt, preserve, and curate items of importance and interest. It's not just the object that holds curiosity, but the story it has to tell. Never before seen personal collections of dolls, stamps, postcards, hats, books, art, and pocket watches will be exhibited along with John Nash's collection. Mr. Nash was a beloved community historian whose dedication to collecting Cape May's African American history formed the basis for Center for Community Arts' Nash African American History Archives.

This exhibit will be held at the Carroll Gallery on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate. Admission to the exhibit is free. Visit www.capemaymac.org/carriage-house-hours for exhibit hours. The Emlem Physick Estate is located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Through Sunday, May 12, 2019 - East Amwell, Hunterdon County
Florence Moonan Exhibit
Family Friendly

 Florence Moonan is a New Jersey artist who is passionate about painting and music. When she was a child growing up in Lambertville, her heart was set on performing, but a set of acrylics gifted from her dad redirected her focus and she began painting at home while raising four children. Today, her home and studio are located in Stockton.

 She was employed at The College of New Jersey (previously known as Trenton State College) over 30 years. During that time she began taking art courses through their tuition-waiver program. One semester she registered for a studio class with a remarkable professor who taught her to express her inner thoughts and emotions through color and texture. It was a revelation and she began working in an abstract manner. Using acrylic paints and mixed media, intuitive paintings began to spring up from bits and pieces from her memory. Family mementos, loss, travel, and above all, music, began to inform her work. It was a turning point. She was learning a new language. Today, she is known for colorful abstract venetian plaster paintings. Through this medium she learned to create bold new ways of mark making using metal scrapers and various tools. Visual surfaces of color and motion emerge after multiple layers of hand-tinted plaster were added and subtracted. The surfaces are hand burnished and the results produce a tactile texture as smooth as a stone tossed by the sea. Her paintings evoke a range of moods from playful to mysterious. A mystery waiting to be revealed to her and to be interpreted by the viewer.

 Moonan advanced in her career at The College while continuing her studies and building a professional art portfolio. In December 2002 she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts summa cum laude. She retired in 2007 and began painting full time.

 Her artwork was selected for the 2017-2018 New Jersey Emerging Artists Series at Monmouth Museum. Her paintings have been selected for numerous juried shows, invitationals, and group exhibitions throughout the United States including: D & R Greenway Land Trust (First Place Award); Phillips Mill, New Hope Arts Center, Prallsville Mills; Ellarslie at Trenton City Museum; 11th GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, (First Prize Award) Reading, PA; The Center for Contemporary Art, Bedminster, NJ; Hunterdon Art Museum, NJ; Maryland Federation of Art, MD; Chautauqua Institution, NY, and the Hunterdon County Cultural and Heritage Commission’s Invitational Biennial.

The East Amwell Historical Society will present the Florence Moonan Exhibit at the East Amwell Museum 1053 Old York Road, Ringoes, NJ. The opening reception will be held on Friday, April 12 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Admission to the East Amwell Museum and exhibit will be free and open to the public on weekends from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. The exhibit will be on display from April 6 through May 12, 2019. For more information, visit www.eastamwellhistory.org.

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Through June 2019 - Ocean Township, Monmouth County
"Wet as the Atlantic Ocean: Prohibition in New Jersey”

The 18th Amendment—the measure that made the manufacture, sale, or transport of alcoholic beverages a federal offense for the 13 years, 10 months, 19 days, and 17 hours of Prohibition—was repealed in 1933. It is the only Constitution Amendment ever to be undone. And its doing and undoing were the results of a tug-of-war between the “Wets” and the “Drys” that played out across the country.

A new exhibit opening to the public Sunday, in the Richmond Gallery of the Eden Woolley House reveals where New Jersey stood in that tug-of-war. “Wet as the Atlantic Ocean: Prohibition in NJ” brings the debates, glamour, and violence of the Roaring Twenties home.

How did it happen?
The prohibition debate had been argued across the country for nearly a century before the 18th Amendment outlawed alcohol nationwide. Maine passed the first state prohibition law in 1846 and by the Civil War, several other states had followed suit.

So what happened in the first decades of the next century to elevate debate into a campaign for a Constitutional Amendment—that took the fight national?

• Drunkenness was a real problem. The proliferation of saloons fueled a drinking culture, and between 1900 and 1913, beer and alcohol consumption soared. Women and families suffered.
• Women had been campaigning for abstinence since the early 1800s, By the turn of the century they were finding their voice, stridently advocating for the vote-— and increasingly for prohibition. Organizations like the Women’s Christian Temperance Union were gaining ground.
• Many Americans felt threatened by the influx of immigrants whose cultural norms around alcohol threatened prevailing white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant values.
• On the global scene, the unthinkable carnage of the First World War and the alarming success of the Russian Revolution fueled a nostalgic longing for control and order.

Under these conditions, pro-prohibition sentiment grew. By 1919 more than half the country lived in dry states, counties, or towns. If the 18th Amendment were to be passed, it needed to happen before the 1920 census, the results of which would give greater power to the anti-prohibition cities.

The last state to Ratify
Ours was the last state to ratify the 18th amendment and it did so in 1922, two years after the measure was in effect. (Rhode Island and Connecticut never ratified.) We fought Prohibition in court. New Jersey joined Rhode Island in a losing challenge before the Supreme Court (1920). And we were back in 1931, when the Supreme Court overruled a New Jersey federal judge’s decision invalidating the 18th Amendment.

New Jersey’s Resistance
It’s no surprise, then, that Prohibition enforcement in New Jersey was lax. Local fishermen and boaters shuttled bootlegged liquor to shore from rum-running ships lined up just outside the legal limit. Speakeasies thrived with little risk of raid. The state underfunded enforcement. Corruption was rampant. Local police turned a blind eye. Even the teetotaling and incorruptible Ira Reeves, the man put in charge of federal enforcement in New Jersey, resigned after eight months and took up the anti-Prohibition cause!

This exhibit runs through June 2019. The Township of Ocean Historical Museum offers exhibits on the history of coastal Monmouth County and a full calendar of events. The Museum also houses a library and archive of local history. It is open, free of charge, 1:00 - 4:00 pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday, 7:00 - 9:00 pm Thursday evenings, and 1:00 - 4:00 pm the first and second Sundays of each month. The Township of Ocean Historical Museum is located at 703 Deal Road, Ocean, NJ. For more information, visit www.oceanmuseum.org.

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Through June 2019 - Morristown, Morris County
Iconic Culture: From Little Black Dress to Bell Bottoms

Morris County Historical Society’s upcoming exhibit, Iconic Culture: From Little Black Dress to Bell Bottoms, promises to be a one-stop spot for a stroll down memory lane.

From the timeless designs of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel to the trend-setting bell bottoms of Sonny and Cher, MCHS explores more than 50 years of cultural history through a retrospective featuring nearly 100 pieces from its historic textile collection. Iconic Culture will examine how changes in clothing styles mirrored the social climate of their time and the seminal moments and people who defined their decade – with a focus on New Jersey history.

In addition to the fashions, Iconic Culture will highlight cultural milestones in local, state, and national history that coincided with the Roaring 20s, Great Depression, World War II, Civil Rights Movement, and Vietnam Era.

This multimedia exhibit features music, television shows, and radio broadcasts. Visitors will also have an opportunity to share personal recollections about significant events, such as the assassination of President Kennedy.

The exhibit is available through Sunday, June 16, 2019. Morris County Historical Society is located at Acorn Hall, 68 Morris Avenue, Morristown, NJ and is open Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11:000 am - 4:00 pm and Sundays, 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Admission, which includes the exhibits and landscaped grounds, is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for students, and is free for children under 12 and MCHS members. For more information, call 973-267-3465 or visit www.MorrisCountyHistory.org.

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Through November 11, 2019 - Woodbury, Gloucester County
War to End Wars: Centennial of WWI & Veterans’ Day

War to End Wars: Centennial of WWI & Veterans’ Day, our new exhibit at the Gloucester County Historical Society Museum, honors the centennial of World War I and its veterans.  Come view uniforms worn by local, youthful doughboys as well as original liberty bond and enlistment posters carefully preserved by our librarians for over one hundred years! The exhibit also honors veterans of all wars since World War I as Americans now celebrate the day the war ended as Veterans’ Day. The exhibit is now open and will run through Veterans’ Day. The exhibit will be open on Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. The museum is also open on the last Sunday of each month September through April from 2:00 - 5:00 pm as well as Saturdays April 6 and May 4 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Please visit www.gchsnj.org for further details. The Gloucester County Historical Society Museum is located at 58 N. Broad Street, Woodbury, NJ. For more information, call 856-848-8531 or visit www.gchsnj.org.

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Through December 2019 - Ridgewood, Bergen County
Here Comes The Bride - Chronicling Two Hundred Years of Wedding Customs & Traditions

Something old. Something new. Something borrowed. Something blue. Tossing the bouquet. Bride and Groom cake toppers. Putting a sixpence in your shoe. Where did these traditions originate? Why do we still honor them today? Please join us as we walk down the aisle and trace the history of Ridgewood’s wedding traditions.

The Schoolhouse Museum celebrates the opening of its current featured exhibit “Here Comes The Bride - Chronicling Two Hundred Years of Wedding Customs & Traditions.” This new exhibit features items dating from 1789-1989, showcasing many beautiful wedding gowns from the museum's collection - some of which have never been on exhibit before.

While at the museum, see the curio cabinet exhibit “50 Small Things with Big Histories.” The exhibits are open until December 2019 and are free to the public with donations suggested at the door. Museum hours are Thursdays and Saturdays from 1:00 - 3:00 pm and Sundays from 2:00 - 4:00 pm.

The Schoolhouse Museum is a historic one-room schoolhouse in Ridgewood, New Jersey, originally built in 1872, that has been turned into a gallery space which now houses the Ridgewood Historical Society. Entirely volunteer-run, the non-profit Historical Society presents annual exhibits, events and workshops in a community that values education, family and local and national history. The museum is located at 650 E Glen Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ.

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Through June 28, 2020 -  Piscataway, Middlesex County
Mid-Century New Jersey Exhibit


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Some event listings courtesy of the League of Historical Societies of New Jersey
Location: New Jersey, USA

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